9/25/14
OSHA Extends Compliance Date for Crane Operator Certification Requirements
WASHINGTON, DC, September 25, 2014—The Occupational Safety and Health Administration today issued a final rule extending the deadline for crane operator certification requirements in the Cranes and Derricks in Construction final rule published Aug. 9, 2010, by three years to Nov. 10, 2017. The rule also extends by three years the employer’s responsibility to ensure that crane operators are competent to operate a crane safely. The final rule becomes effective Nov. 9, 2014.
During the three-year period, OSHA will address operator qualification requirements for the cranes standards including the role of operator certification. The final cranes and derricks rule required crane operators on construction sites to meet one of four qualification/certification options by Nov. 10, 2014. After publishing the final rule, a number of parties raised concerns about the Standard’s requirement to certify operators by type and capacity of crane and questioned whether crane operator certification was sufficient for determining whether an operator could operate their equipment safely on a construction site.
The agency published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Feb. 12, 2014, proposing to extend both the deadline for operator certification and the employer duty to ensure competent crane operation for three years. After publishing the proposed rule, a hearing was requested and held in Washington, D.C. Comments from the hearing are available at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=OSHA-2007-0066. OSHA analyzed the comments to the NPRM and the hearing testimony and decided to extend both the crane operator certification deadline and the existing employer duty for three years. OSHA has already begun the process of developing a standard to ensure crane operator qualifications.
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees.OSHA’s role is to ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.
View OSHA news bulletin (9/25/14).
Review top ten frequently asked questions on OSHA's delay of its crane operator certification requirements.
Visit NCCCO's OSHA Rule Reopening Resource Center.
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01/09/14-
As of January 1 2014, the Midwest Energy Association (MEA) is no longer recognizing the IUOE’s current Pipeline Operator Qualification (OQ) program.
Please be advised that we have suspended issuing OQ cards and are not processing any certification paperwork for OQ testing. We understand that this is an inconvenience.
The IUOE is continuing to work on gaining OQ certification portability to ensure that IUOE member credentials are widely recognized in the energy industry.
Fraternally,
Jeff Vincent
Executive Director
IUOE National Training Fund
”

04/23/2013
Background to NCCCO Service Truck Crane Operator Certification (TSS-STC):
The NCCCO Service Truck Crane Operator certification (TSS-STC) is a restricted subcategory of the CCO Telescopic Boom-Fixed Cab certification (TSS) and was developed specifically for the industries that use these smaller machines.
Service truck cranes are identified by their telescopic boom, where the base and mast structure is not integral to the stabilizer/outrigger system. Lifting is typically accomplished via a winch (electric or hydraulic) and its functions (rotation, elevation, telescoping) are either powered or manual. These machines tend to have relatively shorter boom lengths (10-35 ft) and lower capacities (1-7 Tons) as compared to other Telescopic Boom-Fixed Cab machines (e.g., Boom Trucks, Carry Deck cranes). Additionally, operations are usually conducted by the use of radio remote or pendant control with the operator standing on the ground following the load.
Please note that the NCCCO Telescopic Boom-Fixed Cab certification (TSS) covers service truck cranes, as well as the more traditional cranes within the Telescopic Boom-Fixed Cab designation. Operators of service truck cranes who currently possess a TSS certification are not required to also possess the Service Truck Crane certification. TSS-STC restricted certification is intended only for operators of service truck cranes and not for those who operate larger Telescopic Boom-Fixed Cab (TSS) cranes. To be certified to operate all TSS cranes, candidates must achieve the full TSS certification (Core + TSS specialty written + TSS practical).
Full details of the Service Truck Crane Operator program will be available on the NCCCO website very soon. To review the FAQ about the Service Truck Crane Operator program, please see the attached pdf document. NCCCO Service Truck Crane FAQ
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10/01/2012 NCCCO will be adding Pre-Operational Inspection and Shut-Down Procedures to All Mobile Crane Practical Exams.. Efective Immediatly
Pre-Operational Inspection Instructions: I will ask you to identify 5 items regarding crane set-up that are part of the Pre-Operational Inspection. One at a time, you will describe how you would conduct the inspection and what deficiencies you would look for.
Task 5: Safe Shut-Down and Securing Procedures: Before leaving the operators station, please apply safe shut-down prcedures to the crane in preparation for the next candidate. Once complete, please leave the operators station and describe the procedures you would follow to secure the crane at the end of the day.

NCCCO TO
ALLOW CALCULATORS

NCCCO Approves Use of Calculators on CCO Exams

Study Reveals No Impact on Load Chart Interpretation

February 1, 2012 - Basic electronic calculators will be permitted
for use on certain CCO written exams, the National Commission for the
Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) has announced. Previously, calculators
have been prohibited on all CCO national tests. The measure takes effect July
2, 2012.

The change in policy is based in part, NCCCO says, on the
results of a study commissioned by International Assessment Institute (IAI),
the company that provides test development and administration services to
NCCCO. The study, The Effects of Calculator Use During
NCCCO Testing, concluded that, while the use of calculators would not be
appropriate for use on basic math questions such as those contained in CCO Core
exams, their use would be supportable on load chart calculations used on CCO
Specialty exams.

The Study notes that there are two types of math items used
in NCCCO exams: calculation problems that require only the use of basic math
skills such as adding, subtracting, dividing and multiplying (items of this
type were introduced on CCO Core exams in 2011); and those found on CCO
Specialty examinations in connection with load chart interpretation that involve
higher order thinking and information retrieval skills.

In support of its recommendation that calculators be used on
CCO Specialty exams but not the Core exams, the Report notes that “a calculator
would not help a candidate deduce the correct answer on load chart questions
since there are multiple problem solving steps required for a correct answer.”

NCCCO will start providing calculators for use at all NCCCO
mobile crane written test administrations beginning with exams administered
July 2, 2012. “The five-month phase-in period will provide ample opportunity
for candidates and training providers alike to adjust to the new policy,”
explained NCCCO Program Manager of Test Development, Joel Oliva.
Calculators would be available for traditional paper-and-pencil tests as well
as at computer test centers, he explained.

RIGHT TO WORK
FOR LESS 1/22/11

WE ARE UNDER ATTACK AGAIN!! ALL MEMBERS NEED TO GET INVOLVED
OR THE WAY OF LIFE YOU ARE USED TO MAY DISAPEAR.. To
learn more click on this link: http://www.badforindiana.org/

Due to the changes OSHA has made to its construction
standards that require anyone giving hand signals or doing any kind of rigging
will have to be qualified in each. We will be putting on a Signal Person &
Rigging Qualification Class to address these new regulations for our members.
Please check class schedule for dates. Members will receive an Operating
Engineers Local 103 ID card with all their certifications and new hand signal
& rigging qualifications.

G.P.S.
Excavator Ready for Training 9/30/2010

Local 103 Members now have access to CAT ACUGRADE G.P.S. on
a CAT 336 excavator here at the training site.

The CAT ACUGRADE System is identical to Trimble GCS 900
System and is ready for training. Please give us a call and schedule a time to
take advantage of this great new tool.

Saturday, July 30, 2011 8:00am

Saturday, October, 22, 2011 8:00am

NEWO.S.H.A CRANE
STANDARDS 8/03/2010

Federal
OSHA Releases New Rule

Federal OSHA has
released the much anticipated new rule on the use of cranes and
derricks in construction. Please follow links provided for more information on
how these new regulations affect you as a Local 103 Operating Engineer…

G.p.s. manuals now online 04/08/10

Creg Adkins of SITECH
put together a web page for local 103 so we could have access to the latest
G.P.S. operator’s manuals online. There is also an Emulator tab that after
installed will give you interactive experience with Trimble GCS 900 control
display. Click on following link… https://www.myconnectedsite.com/site/SITECHIN/IUOE103training